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By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 29, 2000
During the 1998-99 school year (the most recent numbers available), 3,868 children of middle school age opted out of the public school program to attend private school.
Reasons vary, ranging from a need for a smaller, more structured setting to the desire for a different educational philosophy such as religious instruction, strong academics, or a sports orientation.
Many choices are available. Parents considering enrolling their child in a private middle school should visit the school, talk to the director and teachers, and consult with parents whose children are already enrolled.
Cost is also a factor. Private school tuition and fees can range from a few thousand to nearly $10,000 a year. Some private schools offer financial aid or scholarships.
Deadlines and entrance requirements differ widely among private schools. Parents should start the process well before the beginning of the school year. Private schools usually do not hold lotteries, enrolling children on a first-come, first-served basis. As in public school magnet programs, prior academic performance, test scores and personal interviews are crucial to private school admission.
Many private schools do not have separate middle school programs, folding grades 6 through 8 into their elementary programs. As a result, space in grades 6-8 is often limited to those slots opened by private sixth-graders switching back to the public school system for its academic offerings, magnet or fundamental schools.
Some private schools will accept mid-year transfers, but because of space limitations and differences in program structure and content, the practice is often discouraged.
Accreditation is an important issue that should be considered by parents in selecting a private middle school. Some may use an independent accrediting agency affiliated with a religion or educational philosophy. Private schools are not licensed, approved, accredited or regulated by the state.